True Blue is a Department of Natural Resources marketing initiative designed to promote Maryland crabmeat by permitting certified restaurants to use a special logo on their menus and products. This not only helps the local economy, but also educates consumers about the crabmeat they are eating, according to O'Malley.

"Better for our health and the health of the economy," O'Malley said in an interview with The Frederick News-Post, referring to the benefits of buying local crabmeat.

Among the 20 people who attended Wednesday's event were politicians and local businessmen, many invited by friends at the brewery and the Department of
Natural Resources.

Tony Conrad, who has been working with the True Blue campaign, said DNR's Steve Vilnit called him up and invited him to attend. Conrad said he is a staunch supporter of the campaign as a local crabber and restaurant owner.

"I'm doing it for the crabs," he said, laughing.

Flying Dog Brewery donated the money as part of its pledge to support the True Blue campaign with its new seasonal beer, Dead Rise Old Bay Summer Ale. The beer rolled out in May to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Old Bay seasoning.

"We thought it was just a perfect fit that Dead Rise Old Bay Summer Ale is brewed with the Old Bay, the iconic crab seasoning," said Erin Weston, the brewery's director of communications.

After O'Malley's opening remarks, the governor and attendees toured the brewery. CEO Jim Caruso even grabbed a fresh Dead Rise Old Bay Summer Ale off the production shelf for the governor to taste.

"There's a big movement to buy local," O'Malley said to the 20 people gathered in the brewery's main lobby. "We should say drink local, too."
While it's been out for only a few months, the beer has become popular throughout the state. Flying Dog Brewery sold out the quantity of Dead Rise intended to last the whole summer in just two weeks. That caused the brewery to shift its production schedule to accommodate the demand.

"(We've) been in the beer business for decades and never seen such an extreme demand for beer," Biles said.

Shawn Wolf, of Wright Manufacturing, who also attended the event, said he had yet to taste the new beer but remained optimistic he would enjoy it.

"Who in Maryland doesn't like Old Bay?" he said.

Dead Rise will be available until mid-September. However, the brewery intends to reintroduce the beer next summer, Biles said.